Cartridge expelling mechanism for firearms

ABSTRACT

A lever-action firearm includes a breech block which is activated to open or close the firing chamber by working a lever. When closing the chamber, the breech block motion concurrently energizes a spring-loaded ejector mechanism. When opening the chamber, an extractor member provides an autonomous partial extraction of a cartridge from the firing chamber and, thereafter, releases the ejector mechanism. Thereupon, the ejector mechanism drives the extractor to completely expel the cartridge from the firing chamber. The cartridge is impelled over both the breech block and the hammer and, thereafter, is deflected by a selectively positionable member located towards the rear of the receiver.

Unite States atet H 1 in] 3,830,000

Browning Aug. 20, 1974 ('AR'IRIDGF ICXI'ELLING MECHANISM Primary I'.'.\umim'r Benjamin A. Borchclt FOR FIREARMS Q6 62 72 TI 69 I 68 74 7806? Assistant ExaminerC. T. Jordan Attorney, Agent, or FirmTrask & Britt [57] ABSTRACT A lever-action firearm includes a breech block which is activated to open or close the firing chamber by working a lever. When closing the chamber, the breech block motion concurrently energizes a springloaded ejector mechanism. When opening the chamber, an extractor member provides an autonomous partial extraction of a cartridge from the firing chamber and, thereafter, releases the ejector mechanism. Thereupon, the ejector mechanism drives the extractor to completely expel the cartridge from the firing chamber. The cartridge is impelled over both the breech block and the hammer and, thereafter, is deflected by a selectively positionable member located towards the rear of the receiver.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CARTRIDGE EXPELLING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field This invention relates to mechanism for expelling a spent shell from the breech of a firearm and, more particularly, to a shell-expelling mechanism for lever action single-shot rifles and the like.

2. State of the Art Lever-action firearms are well-known to those knowledgeable in the field of ordnance. Such firearms are known which include primary extraction mechanisms to partially extract a shell from the chamber of the firearm when the lever is operated to open the chamber. Mechanism is also known for translating momentum to such extractor mechanism to expel the partially extracted shell from the chamber. The particular improvements described hereinafter are directed to such lever-activated mechanisms for ejecting spent cartridges. The claimed mechanisms are smooth operating and relatively free from the jamming and similar problems experienced with comparable prior art mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The lever-action firearm of this invention includes a receiver in which a barrel, including a firing chamber, is assembled, and to which a manual lever is pivotally connected. A breech block is slidably mounted in the receiver and connected to the lever so that the breech block rises or falls in the receiver as the lever is, respectively, closed or opened. A spring-loaded ejector mechanism is connected to the receiver so that it is energized, and preferably latched, by the motion of the breech block when the block rises in the receiver toward its fully closed position; i.e., the position at which it secures a cartridge in the firing chamber.

An extractor member is resiliently mounted in the receiver in' a position to grip against a cartridge in the chamber. The manual lever coacts with the extractor to partially extract a cartridge from the chamber when the breech block is lowered; such motion is referred to herein as primary extraction. A connection is provided between the extractor and the ejector mechanism such that, after the extractor executes the primary extraction, the extractor motion releases the ejector mechanism which, in turn, abruptly drives the extractor to completely expel the cartridge from the chamber.

Preferably, the shell is expelled straight back from the firing chamber. A deflector is mounted near the rear of the receiver to deflect an expelled shell or to stop it for hand removal.

When the lever is closed, the ejection mechanism is substantially simultaneously urged into energized condition by the breech block as it rises into its firing or loaded position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be further understood by referring to the following description and appended drawings, which are offered by way of illustration only, the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded pictorial view of the principal components of the mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away sectional view taken generally in the plane of symmetry through the axial centerline of the rifle in FIG. 1 showing some of the components of the mechanism in assembled, the rifle being in the loaded, condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, again partially cut-away, which is taken generally in a plane parallel to the plane of FIG. 2 but slightly offset from the rifle centerline in order to show other components from FIG. 1, the rifle again in the loaded condition;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 except that the illustrated mechanism is shown to be in the condition of just beginning to expel a cartridge;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 except that the mechanism is shown to be in the condition of having partially expelled a cartridge; and

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of one of the parts in FIG. 1 rotated to show its other side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The term single-shot as used herein derives from the fact that, after firing, a new cartridge must be loaded manually into the chamber before the firearm can again be fired. In other words, a single-shot rifle has no magazine nor provision for automatic reloading. Nevertheless, mechanism may be provided to expel a cartridge from the chamber, and such mechanism is the subject of the present invention. Because the shellexpelling mechanism is actuated by manually working a lever 17, the illustrated rifle is properly termed a lever-action, single-shot firearm.

The lever 17 is substantially conventional both in structure and operation. It is pivotably fixed into the receiver 12 by a pivot pin 18 which acts as its fulcrum. Opening the lever (i.e., a downward stroke) expels a cartridge from the firing chamber 14; closing the lever secures a cartridge in the chamber, cocks the hammer, and readies the rifle for firing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end 19 of the lever which extends into the receiver holds pin 21 upon which pivots a shortlink 22. The link is mounted on the lever end such that its pivot point (i.e., pin 21) is pulled generally downward and rearward by opening of the lever. As is best-shown in FIG. 1, the lever end 19 is bifurcated vertically, and the short link 22 (as well as the extractor to be described hereinafter) pivots freely in the slot formed'by the bifurcation. While it is not essential to the invention to bifurcate the lever end, the slot so formed steadies the parts which pivot therein and, consequently, is a desirable design refinement in practice.

The short link 22 connects, via a pivot pin 25, to a breech block 26. The illustrated breech block holds a spring-loaded firing pin 27 and, with the rifle in firing condition, closes against the rear of the firing chamber 14 to secure a cartridge therein. In the secured position. the breech block positions the firing pin so that it may be driven into the cartridge by force of the hammer 28.

The illustrated breech block 26. has generally an elongated rectangular shape, and its lower portion is bifurcated by a vertical slot 24 into which the lever 17 slips when in the closed position. The breech block is constrained by the receiver 12 so that it can slide only vertically. In the illustrated instance, vertical surfaces 29 (FIG. 1) are provided in the receiver 12 for the breech block 26 to slide against. The breech block 26 is fairly long in comparison to its other dimensions to achieve a smooth reciprocating action when the lever 17 is opened or closed.

A spring detent ball 31 is shown located on the portion of the lever which slips into the breech block. A slight depression (not shown) is formed in the inside wall of the breech block slot 24 in a position such that with the lever closed, the detent ball 31 seats in the depression, thereby locking the breech block and the lever together. (At that time, the breech block is in its most upward position.) A slight downward tug on the lever snaps the detent ball 31 from the breech block. The detent ball latch is another feature which, although desirable in practice, is not essential to the invention.

The aforementioned hammer 28 is pivotally fixed, via a pin 32, to the lower end of the breech block 26. Thus, when the breech block 26 is drawn down by the lever 17, the hammer 28 also moves down. The hammer and the breech block move down sufficiently, preferably below chamber level (see FIG. 4) so that they do not block a shell casing moving nearly straight back out of the chamber. In addition to moving down when the lever is opened, the hammer also pivots rearward due to force applied against a roller 33.

The roller 33 is mounted to rotate on a stationary axle 34 in an arcuate depression 36 formed in the body of the hammer. The roller surface extends slightly out from the front surface of the hammer into the slot 24 in the breech block.

The functioning of the roller 33 is best understood by considering the initial motion of the short link 22 as the lever 17 is opened. The short link pivot pin 21 on the lever end 19 moves in an arc down and back. The rear surface 38 of the link 22 moves to the rear and up, whereupon it contacts the roller 33 and urges the hammer 28 back just enough to release the pressure of the hammer on the firing pin 27. The firing pin is thus allowed to retract from the firing chamber 14. Retracting of the firing pin in this fashion is necessary to avoid shearing the pin when it moves down with the breech block past the firing chamber 14. Although the firing pin is spring-loaded, its spring 27a is not ordinarily strong enough to overcome the pressure of the hammer.

The illustrated means for driving the hammer 28 towards the firing pin 27 comprises a pair of rods 41 around which are slidably mounted spiral compression springs 42. One end of each of the rods 41 is pivotally fixed at the rear of the receiver 12. The other, forward, ends of the rods are fitted through appropriately sized apertures formed in a rotatable pin 43 fixed transversely through the hammer 28. Accordingly, as the hammer pivots, the rods 41 change their direction and their effective length by sliding through the apertures in a pin (not shown) fixed in the rear of the receiver. The springs 42 on the rods thus store energy which may subsequently be released to cause the hammer 28-to forcefully strike the firing pin 27. That is, with the rifle in cocked condition, the springs are in compression between the pivot connection at the rear of the receiver (not shown) and the pivot pin 43 on the hammer; when the hammer is released from cocked condition, the energy released by the springs drives the hammer forward.

The mechanism for holding the hammer cocked is not shown in great detail since it may be assumed to be conventional. Such mechanism may comprise, for example, a hook 46 formed on the lower, rearward portion of the hammer body. Thus, as the hammer is pulled downward by the breech block 26 upon opening the lever 17, the hook 46 catches on a conventional latch means (not shown). The latch means secures the hammer in the cocked condition even after the lever is closed (i.e., after the breech block rises). The latch means releases, however, when the trigger 47 is pulled, thereby allowing the springs 42 to drive the hammer forward and upward against the firing pin. Means other than the springs-and-rod arrangement 41 and 42 can be utilized to drive the hammer; for example, a flat spring might be utilized rather than the spiral springs 42.

The shell-expelling mechanism comprises a dog-leg shaped member 51 (referred to herein as the extractor) which is rotatably connected to the lever pivot pin 18. As well as being rotatable relative to the pin, the extractor is capable of translation in a vertical plane normal to the axis of the pivot pin. To accommodate such motion, an elongated aperture 52 is formed through the extractor; the pin 18 rides in the aperture 52 and is biased relatively downward by a plunger assembly which includes a spring 53 and a spring follower 54 slidable in a bore 56 formed in the extractor to intersect the elongated aperture 52. The extractor is thus resiliently mounted. The upper end 58 of the extractor protrudes into the firing chamber 14 and is sharply angled to catch the rim of a shell in the chamber. As shown in FIG. 1, a radius is formed in the extractor end 58 which conforms to the curvature of the casing of the shell 15.

The extractor is impelled by an ejector mechanism (60, FIG. 3) which is, generally speaking, a springloaded device. The ejector mechanism is energized or cocked by closing the lever and is released by completely opening the lever. Upon release, the ejector telescopes in the rearward direction and its travel is transmitted to and drives the extractor 51. The ejector includes (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) a latching member (the ejector hammer sear) 61. The ejector hammer sear is an elongate, generally horizontally disposed member which is pivotally mounted, by a stationary pivot pin 62 near its forward end, to a forearm support member 63 which is fixed below and parallel to the barrel 13 ahead of the receiver 12. The sear is offset slightly towards one side of the barrel as shown in FIG. 1. The opposite ends 66 and 67, respectively, of the sear 61 are upturned, and the pivot pin 62 is located at the forward end 66 so that a force in the forward direction on that end pivots the sear in a vertical plane; re, the rearward end 67 moves up.

The ejector mechanism further includes a spiral compression spring 68 (called the ejector spring) and a guide member therefor, both operatively connected to the sear 61. The illustrated guide member is an elongate rod 69 which slides axially into the spring until the spring end abuts an integral collar 71 near the rod end 72. The tip of the rod end 72 is bluntly rounded and fits into a shallow locating depression 73 formed in the forward end 66 of the sear so that the sear is free to swivel.

The ejector spring 68, together with its guide rod 69, is slidably mounted within a cylindrical channel 74 formed in a member 75 called the ejector hammer. The channel 74 abruptly decreases in diameter at a shoulder 76 toward the rearward end of the ejector hammer. The rearward end of the ejector spring 68 abuts the shoulder 76 so that, in compression, the spring exerts a forwardly directed force on the sears upturned end 66 and an equal but opposite force on the ejector hammer shoulder 76. Because the sear is pivoted at pin 62, the force exerted by the spring on the upturned end 66 tends to swing the other (rearward) end 67 of the sear upward to engage the ejector hammer 75.

The ejector hammer75 has a slot 78 formed in its underside (see FIG. 3) into which the rearward end 67 of the sear 61 catches so that the tip of that end protrudes up into the channel 74. Thus, searing surface 67a engages the slot surface 78a. When the sear 61 is thus latched into the slot 78, the ejector spring 68 is under substantial compression. The ejector hammer is located far enough forward in the latched position so that it must travel substantially before reaching the front wall 81 of the receiver.

The ejector mechanism further includes a shaft-like member 82, called the ejector hammer extension (see particularly FIGS. 1 and 6). The extension serves to communicate the travel of the ejector hammer 75 to the extractor 51 and vice versa. The extension includes a forward portion or stem 84, which is slidably received in the rearward portion of the channel 74 in the ejector hammer. A shoulder 83 on the stem 84 abuts the rearward end of the hammer. An intermediate portion 85 of the stem 84 is of reduced diameter and, when the stem 84 is fully inserted into the ejector hammer channel 74, that reduced diameter portion 85 overlies the slot 78 thereby allowing the tip of the sear end 67 to protrude into the channel 74. As shown, the tip of the stem 84 is large enough in diameter that, in passing through the channel 74, it pushes the sear end 67 from the channel 74, thereby disengaging the searing surface 67a from the slot surface 78a. The rearward face 84a of the stem tip may be sloped to wedge easily against the sear end 67, thereby to provide downward camming action on the surface 67b.

The rear end of the ejector hammer extension 82 passes through an aperture 86 formed in the forward wall 81 of the receiver and extends into the receiver on one side of the extractor S1. The extreme rearward end of the extension is notched, or half-removed, to leave a partially vertical, partially angled surface 88 (FIG. 6) which rides on the forward face of the breech block 26 while the remainder 89 of that end of the extension slidably bears on the side of the breech block. Thus, as the breech block 26 rises, the surface 88a of the extension slides across the surface 26a to overcock" the extension; i.e., to urge the extension slightly further forward than necessary to permit engagement of the searing surface 67a with the slot surface 781:. Further upward travel of the breech block 26 registers the recessed surface 2611 with the surface 880. These surfaces remain slightly out of contact, however. A notch 91 is formed in the side of the face of the breech block 26 near its upper end; the lower side or wall of the notch is a ramp sloped at an angle of about 45 from horizontal. Since the breech block is constrained to move only vertically and since the extension is constrained by the aperture 86 to move only horizontally back and forth, the ejector hammer extension is limited in its rearward travel by the face of the breech block until it reaches the notch 91. Slightly further rearward travel by the extension is then possible.

The ejector hammer extension 82 further includes an angled slot 93 (FIG. 6) which is formed across the region where the extension passes on the side of the upper portion of the extractor 51. In practice, the slot 93 is angled about from horizontal. A peg 94 is fixed to the extractor to extend slidably into the angled slot 93. The peg is the means by which motion of the extension is transmitted to the extractor and vice versa. The peg slides in the slot when either the extractor or the extension moves and thereby serves to coordinate the motion of the two. According to other embodiments of the invention, the angled slot is formed in the extractor and the corresponding peg fixed to the exten- SlOn.

With the aforedescribed mechanism in the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be assumed that the hammer 28 has just fallen and fired the cartridge 15 held in the chamber 14. As the lever 17 is opened, the first motion which occurs is that the short link 22 pivots at the lever end 19 pushing the hammer 28, through roller 33, back enough to allow the spring-loaded firing pin 27 to retract from the firing chamber 14. As the lever is opened further, the short link 22 begins to pull the breech block 26 down along the guide surfaces 29 in the receiver 12. As the breech block moves down, the ejector hammer extension 82 remains cocked in place with the surface 88a slightly out of contact with the recessed surface 26b of the breech block 26 until it reaches the surface 26a. As the breech block 26 moves further down and opens the chamber 14, the ejector hammer extension 82 is able to move rearward into the slot 91. Such motion is precipitated by the extractor plunger assembly autonomously pushing the extractor 51 upward relative to the lever pivot pin 18. That is, as the extractor moves up, the extractor peg 94 slides in the slot 93 in the ejector hammer extension 82 and pushes the extension rearward. As the extractor moves up and back, its upper end 58 slides the shell 15 back at least partially out of the chamber 14. This partial removal of the shell is called the primary extraction phase of the ejector movement and occurs as soon as the breech block allows the cartridge to move. Positive primary extraction is assured by contact of the surface 17a of the lever 17 with the extractor (see FIG. 4).

The extraction of the shell 15 occurs under the inducement of the extractor plunger assembly until the ejector hammer extension 82 has moved back far enough that the tip of its stem 84 strikes the end 67 of the ejector hammer sear 61 protruding into the channel 74 in the ejector hammer. The stem tip pushes the sear end 67 from engagement in the slot 78 in the ejector hammer 75, thereby releasing the ejection mechanism.

Because the sear no longer latches the hammer, the

ejector spring 68 (which presses against shoulder 76 in the hammer 75) is free to drive the hammer back. The hammer 75 travels freely until it strikes the shoulder 83 on the extension. (A resilient washer 96 may be provided at the shoulder 83 to smooth the striking force.) When so struck, the extension 82 moves abrupty rearward; its motion is transmitted to the extractor via the peg 94 sliding in the slot 93, thereby driving the extractor back. At the time this event occurs, the top of the breech block and the hammer have moved well below the chamber (see FIGS. 4 and 5) allowing the cartridge to be expelled straight back from the chamber.

A cartridge which is so expelled from thechamber travels back until it strikes deflector 97 mounted at the rear of the receiver 12. The deflector 97 presents an inclined lip 98 to the expelled shell, diverting it from its path. The illustrated deflector comprises a selectively rotatable disc 99 inclusive of the lip 98 against which the shell impacts. The deflection of the shell upon hitting the lip is governed by the selected position of the lip. The lip may be positioned to deflect the shell to the right, to the left, or to stop the cartridge after ejection for hand removal.

After the lever 17 is fully open and a spent cartridge has been expelled from the chamber as previously described, another cartridge can be readily loaded into the firing chamber by hand.

The new cartridge can be inserted in the firing chamber without interference with the extractor. Accordingly, manual loading is very easy. With the cartridge loaded in the chamber, the lever 17 can be closed, thereby (a) pivoting the extractor forward to latch the ejector mechanism and (b) depressing the extractor to clear the cartridge rim. The plunger spring 53 biases the extractor tip up to engage the rim of the cartridge. The forward pivotal movement of the extractor results from the sloped side of the notch 91 in the breech block 26 pressing against the surface 88 on the ejector hammer extension 82 as the breech block rises upon closing the lever 17.

The motion involved in cocking the ejector is substantially the reverse of the previously described motion relating to releasing the ejector. The forward motion of the extractor hammer extension 82 is communicated to the extractor 51 via the extractor peg 94 riding in the angled slot 93 in the extension 82. Accordingly, the extractor is pivoted forward and slightly depressed. A very slight forward overtravel by the extractor is preferable so that the ejector hammer sear 61 is positively latched. The extractor is pushed down to clear the cartridge lip as it passes the lip but thereafter rises slightly due to the urging of the plunger spring 53. Preferably, the forward surface of the extractor end 58 is angled at about 45 so that the extractor easily passes the cartridge lip. An angled surface 95 may be provided in the receiver 12 to stop the extractor from pivoting forward after it has passed the cartridge lip. The angled surface 95 also aids in directing the extractor rearward during the primary extraction phase.

1 claim:

1. In a lever-action firearm having a receiver, a barrel inclusive of a firing chamber connected to said receiver, a lever pivotally supported from the receiver, a breech block operably connected to the lever for translatory motion in the receiver by working the lever, primary extraction means, and ejector means for translating momentum to said primary extraction means to expel a cartridge from said firing chamber, the improvement which comprises:

a resiliently mounted extractor member mounted in the receiver to grip a cartridge in the chamber, said extractor member being capable of a first autonomous motion upon the urging of the lever to at least partially extract a cartridge from the chamber when said breech block is moved sufficiently away from the chamber to permit movement of a cartridge therefrom;

an ejector mechanism connected to the receiver'to be energized by motion transmitted from said breech block when the same is actuated to secure a cartridge in the firing chamber; and

means connecting said extractor member to said ejector mechanism so that said first autonomous motion is transmitted to said ejector mechanism, thereby releasing the same to thereby abruptly drive said extractor member to completely expel a cartridge from the chamber.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said breech block is operable to move to a position below the chamber upon working the lever, and means are mounted behind the chamber to deflect an expelled cartridge.

3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein said deflecting means is selectively adjustable to vary the angle of deflection and alternately to stop a cartridge.

4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said extractor members resilient mounting is formed to allow said extractor member to pivot, the ejector mechanism is mounted to reciprocate relative to the receiver, and said means connecting said extractor member to said ejector mechanism includes linkage for mutually converting the reciprocating movement of said ejector mechanism to pivotal movement of said extractor member.

5. The improvement of claim 4, wherein said linkage comprises a peg fixed to said extractor member and said peg is slidable in a slot formed in the reciprocating portion of said ejector mechanism.

6. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said ejector mechanism is mounted to reciprocate relative to said extractor member and to thereby drive said extractor member.

7. The improvement of claim 6, wherein said ejector mechanism includes a spring-loaded mechanism which is energized and latched when said breech block is actuated to secure the chamber and which is released upon said first autonomous motion of said extractor member.

8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said breech block includes ramp means bearing against the reciprocating portion of said ejector mechanism to force coordination of the lever-actuated translatory motion of said breech block with the reciprocating motion of said ejector mechanism.

9. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said springloaded mechanism includes a compression spring, a reciprocatable member connected to said spring for reciprocating motion upon urging by said spring, a sear connected to said spring for pivotal motion upon urging by said spring, and latching means connecting said sear to said reciprocatable member to selectively latch and release said spring, depending upon the direction of travel of said reciprocatable member.

10. The improvement of claim 1, including a hammer mounted to fall against said breech block and linkage means which connects the lever to said breech block and which, upon working the lever, pivots said hammer. 

1. In a lever-action firearm having a receiver, a barrel inclusive of a firing chamber connected to said receiver, a lever pivotally supported from the receiver, a breech block operably connected to the lever for translatory motion in the receiver by working the lever, primary extraction means, and ejector means for translating momentum to said primary extraction means to expel a cartridge from said firing chamber, the improvement which comprises: a resiliently mounted extractor member mounted in the receiver to grip a cartridge in the chamber, said extractor member being capable of a first autonomous motion upon the urging of the lever to at least partially extract a cartridge from the chamber when said breech block is moved sufficiently away from the chamber to permit movement of a cartridge therefrom; an ejector mechanism connected to the receiver to be energized by motion transmitted from said breech block when the same is actuated to secure a cartridge in the firing chamber; and means connecting said extractor member to said ejector mechanism so that said first autonomous motion is transmitted to said ejector mechanism, thereby releasing the same to thereby abruptly drive said extractor member to completely expel a cartridge from the chamber.
 2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said breech block is operable to move to a position below the chamber upon working the lever, and means are mounted behind the chamber to deflect an expelled cartridge.
 3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein said deflecting means is selectively adjustable to vary the angle of deflection and alternately to stop a cartridge.
 4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said extractor member''s resilient mounting is formed to allow said extractor member to pivot, the ejector mechanism is mounted to reciprocate relative to the receiver, and said means connecting said extractor member to said ejector mechanism includes linkage for mutually converting the reciprocating movement of said ejector mechanism to pivotal movement of said extractor member.
 5. The improvement of claim 4, wherein said linkage comprises a peg fixed to said extractor member and said peg is slidable in a slot formed in the reciprocating portion of said ejector mechanism.
 6. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said ejector mechanism is mounted to reciprocate relative to said extractor member and to thereby drive said extractor member.
 7. The improvement of claim 6, wherein said ejector mechanism includes a spring-loaded mechanism which is energized and latched when said breech block is actuated to secure the chamber and which is released upon said first autonomous motion of said extractor member.
 8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said breech block includes ramp means bearing against the reciprocating portion of said ejector mechanism to force coordination of the lever-actuated translatory motion of said breech block with the reciprocating motion of said ejector mechanism.
 9. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said spring-loaded mechanism includes a compression spring, a reciprocatable member connected to said spring for reciprocating motion upon urging by said spring, a sear connected to said spring for pivotal motion upon urging by saId spring, and latching means connecting said sear to said reciprocatable member to selectively latch and release said spring, depending upon the direction of travel of said reciprocatable member.
 10. The improvement of claim 1, including a hammer mounted to fall against said breech block and linkage means which connects the lever to said breech block and which, upon working the lever, pivots said hammer. 